Jardín Botánico de Santiago

Fully called Jardín Botánico de Santiago Profesor Eugenio de Jesús Marcano Fondeur, the botanical gardens in Santiago, DR take advantage of the Carribean weather to grow plants and create ecosystems from around the world. Professor Marcano was a botanist (plants), entomologist (bugs), herpetologist (reptiles), and speleologist (caves) who greatly contributed to the understanding of natural sciences in the Dominican, especially the Cibao Valley. He died in 2003 at age seventy-nine, just one year before the beginning of the botanical garden project named in his honor. According the official website of the garden, the area became part of Sistema Nacional de Áreas Protegidas or SiNAP (National System of Protected Areas) under the name Monumento Natural Saltos de la Tinaja (Rocky Pool Waterfalls Natural Monument). The garden itself was named in 2015. When I visited, the park was free and open to the public while quietly undergoing further construction.

One of my favorite stops in the gardens was the pedestrian suspension bridge. I would be remiss if I did not compare this hidden gem to the much longer, metal-and-wood Androscoggin Swinging Bridge connecting Brunswick, ME to Topsham, ME and the shorter, bright green Wiggly Bridge in York, ME. This bridge uses bright yellow rope instead of metal cables for its suspension. A helpful sign reminds visitors, “Es un puente, no una hamaca… ¡vamos a cuidarlo!” (It’s a bridge, not a hammock… let’s take care of it!)

Anfiteatro Rincón de Freddy (Corner Amphitheater of Freddy) is named for Freddy Ginebra, who has worked as a television host, filmmaker, and festival producer. In 1974, he founded Casa de Teatro, a cultural center in a five hundred year old building located on calle Arzobispo Meriño (Archbishop Meriño Street) in Zona Colonial (Colonial Zone) of Santo Domingo, DR. The mural on the amphitheater wall was painted by prolific artist Khaterine Santana y Manaury Calasán and dedicated in January 2022 with Freddy himself in attendance.

El Minibosque Miyawaki (The Mini Forest of Miyawaki) is not unique to these gardens, as conservationists around the world plant this type of controversial forest. In the 1970s, Japanese botanist Akira Miyawaki invented this method of quickly growing native plant forests in previously devastated areas, which is purported on the sign near the forest to be ten times faster than traditional “plantations” (10 diez veces más rápido que las plantaciones tradicionales). According to local newsite Diario Libre, the forest will eventually become 700 hectares (7 square kilometers or 2.7 square miles) in size and contain over 20,000 trees.

Visible from most points in the garden and created by local sculptor Bismarck Victoria, Mirador Cristo Vivo de la Misericordia (Lookout Living Christ of Mercy) is an enormous statue of Christ reaching down from the cross set upon a step pyramid atop of a hill and covering a massive cistern of water used in the surrounding gardens. As an added bonus, the structure was recently renovated to include a wheelchair accessible ramp and handrails, allowing people of all abilities to complete a pilgrimage to the foot of the over 15 meter (50 foot) tall cross. Plus, a family of falcons lives in the hollow body of the statue. A bird even perched on the outstretched hand to pose for a picture, because a bird in hand is worth two in the rest of the garden.

The Estación Meteorológica (Meteorology Station) is part of the national network providing real-time information on temperature, humidity, windspeed, precipitation, and more. The Laberinto (Labyrinth) was not open when I went, as this attraction only accepts guests during weekends and major holidays. Even so, the short hedges allowed me to see most of the maze, a sharp contrast to the cornfield mazes appearing in autumnal New England.

In the middle of the gardens is a rusty United States Marine helicopter from the 1960s. After the dictator Trujillo was assassinated in 1961, other politicians and the Dominican military fought for power. By 1965, thousands of American soldiers arrived in the Dominican during Operation Power Pack to prevent communist leaders from coming into power. On a lighter note, the gardens can be toured via El Cucu Tren (The Owl Train), with the extra bonus of the name being a multilingual pun. Additionally, I was impressed by the neatly labeled recycling bins found throughout the gardens.

Near the entrance is a mural of Las Mariposas (The Butterflies), three of the four Mirabal sisters who worked against the dictatorship of Trujillo and were assassinated on November 25, 1960. The women are among the most famous figures in Dominican history, and the United Nations created International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women in their honor. Also in this area is a round pavement and grass cul-de-sac shaped like a bullseye. This shape does not appear to have a practical purpose but is aesthetically pleasing.

Jardín Botánico de Santiago is among the best stops in the city. Locals and tourists alike will enjoy the quiet walk through nature. The paved paves and train are highly accessible, and the free admission allows people of all incomes to use the space. The parking lot is spacious, and local rideshare drivers are familiar with the gardens. Many benches, shade trees, and non-potable water provide relief from the heat. Signage is in Spanish, but the icons on wayfinding signs allow international visitors to understand where they are. This is a must visit for anyone traveling to Santiago.

Abby Epplett’s Rating System

Experience: 9/10

Accessibility: 9/10